The Blades respond by winning two corners of their own.

From the first, striker Gary Madine goes down under some 'strong attention' from Owls defender Michael Hector. Nothing given but a risky tactic from the centre-half.

Image source, Rex Features

Wednesday winger Adam Reach does really well to get a ball into the box and Steven Fletcher's header is deflected out for a corner.

The Blades stand up well to Barry Bannan's delivery.

Image source, Rex Features

The visitors win their second corner of the evening but the referee spots a foul and it comes to nothing.

A little aside - Blades boss Chris Wilder played under Steve Bruce during the latter's time in charge at Bramall Lane more than 20 years ago.

Blades midfielder John Fleck barges Owls counterpart Sam Hutchinson over to end a scrappy bit of play.

Both players walk off smiling and I dare say it won't be the last time they bump into each other this evening.

BIG SAVE!

Gary Madine gets on the end of Oliver Norwood's deep cross but Keiren Westwood gets across his goal and makes himself big to deny the big Sheffield United striker.

John Fleck's ball into the Owls' box sails over everyone and the hosts get it away.

It's been, unsurprisingly, quite frenetic so far.

Sheffield United have a foray down the Wednesday left and win the game's first corner...

Sheffield United get us under way in the Steel City derby.

Is it going to be a repeat of last season's six-goal thriller at this ground or more like the two goalless draws between the sides at Bramall Lane in the past 18 months?

We're about to find out.

We're moments away from kick off at Hillsborough.

Blades striker and skipper Billy Sharp has never scored in this fixture and will be desperate to set that straight tonight.

Image source, Getty Images

For Sheffield Wednesday boss Steve Bruce tonight will be his first experience of a Steel City derby, although he does have a little bit of history with tonight's opposition.

He began his managerial career as Blades player-manager in July 1998 but left Bramall Lane after one season to take over at Yorkshire rivals Huddersfield Town.

He'll be hoping today goes better than when he last managed a team against the Blades. His Aston Villa side ended up on the wrong side of a 4-1 drubbing by Chris Wilder's men back in September.

Bruce has every reason to believe in a more positive result this evening, the Owls are unbeaten in his six games in charge so far, with three wins and three draws.

He told BBC Radio Sheffield: "The whole of the country will be watching, let's make it a spectacle."

Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder is under no illusions of how important this game is to the supporters of both, primarily because he is one.

After leading the Blades to that 4-2 win at Hillsborough last season he said: "This is everything. Nobody can tell me this is just another three points because it isn't."

His men arrive at on the back of three straight wins, with a return to the Premier League for the first time since 2007 firmly in their sights.

Wilder told BBC Radio Sheffield: "It hasn't changed since I was a supporter as a boy. It's a fantastic occasion.

"Their fans will want to see their team attack and you have to have two people to dance. Both teams will be going for the win on Monday.

"We're not going to be chucking shirts into the crowd if we draw. We're going for a win and we're not scared of losing."

Image source, .

Sheffield United's main rivals for automatic promotion, Leeds and Norwich, both recorded comprehensive wins at the weekend.

Leeds thumped fourth-placed West Brom 4-0 at Elland Road on Friday night before Norwich registered a comfortable 3-1 win at Millwall on Saturday.

Sheffield Wednesday slipped down to 14th after Saturday's action but a win tonight would send them back up to 11th, four points off the play-offs.

Image source, Rex Features

Sheffield Wednesday bring in Dominic Iorfa for the injured Achraf Lazaar in their one change from the win over Brentford.

The visitors include a former Owl in their starting line-up, with striker Gary Madine one of three changes from their 1-0 win at West Brom. I'm sure he'll get a warm welcome back from the Wednesday fans...

Sheff Wed: Westwood, Palmer, Lees, Hector, Iorfa, Reach, Hutchinson, Bannan, Aarons, Forestieri, Fletcher.

Subs: Fox, Pelupessy, Nuhiu, Matias, Boyd, Dawson, Pudil.

Sheff Utd: Henderson, Egan, O'Connell, Basham, Freeman, Norwood, Fleck, Stevens, Dowell, Madine, Sharp.

Subs: Hogan, Coutts, McGoldrick, Stearman, Duffy, Moore, Cranie.

Image source, Rex Features

After a weekend of derbies in the Premier League it's time for one of the fiercest local rivalries in the Championship to take centre stage.

As well as the all-important bragging rights, a win for Sheffield United would take them back up to second in the table with just 11 games to go.

Sheffield Wednesday need a win to keep their slim play-off hopes alive as well as to avenge their 4-2 humbling in this fixture last season.

As Blades striker and skipper Billy Sharp said: "It is another game of football but... it isn't."

Good evening and welcome to live text coverage of the 144th Steel City derby.